The TSX was modestly higher Tuesday, as the further climb in resource stocks helped offset a drop in health-care shares.
The S&P/TSX composite index recovered 5.69 points to close Tuesday at 15,389.28
The Canadian dollar gained 0.64 cents to 80.04 cents U.S.
The energy group was the strongest, as Imperial Oil gathered 45 cents, or 0.8%, to $54.57, while Suncor climbed 37 cents, or 0.9%, to $39.90.
Miners advanced, despite cheaper gold and copper prices. Teck Resources took on 19 cents, or 1.1%, to $16.84, while Sherritt International moved up a penny to $2.14
On the opposite side, health-care led losers, with Valeant Pharmaceuticals –tumbling $2.95, or 1.1% to $260.91.
Following were industrials, such as Bombardier, flat at $2.60.
Telecoms slipped, with Shaw Communications dropping 82 cents, or 2.8%, to $28.10
MBAC Fertilizer was the most heavily traded stock, its price picking up a penny, or 7.4%, to finish at $15 cents
ON BAYSTREET
The TSX Venture Exchange inched up 0.43 points to 696.05
All but three of the 14 Toronto subgroups were lower on the day, with health-care sagging 1%, consumer discretionary stocks down 0.9%, and consumer staples off 0.8%.
The three gainers proved to be energy, up 1.9%, global base metals, up 1.4%, and metals and mining stocks, better by 1.2%.
ON WALLSTREET
U.S. stocks closed mixed on Tuesday as investors digested the first of the major earnings reports and moderate economic data
The Dow Jones Industrials moved forward 59.66 points to close at 18,036.70
The S&P 500 index moved up 1.55 points to 2,093.98,
The NASDAQ index slid 15.18 points to 4,973.07
JPMorgan Chase traded higher after reporting an earnings beat, briefly gaining more than 2% to trade above 15-year highs. Goldman Sachs also initially gained more than 1% to trade near seven-year highs.
JPMorgan's net income rose to $5.91 billion U.S., or $1.45 per share, in the first quarter ended March 31, from $5.27 billion, or $1.28 per share, a year earlier, according to Reuters. CEO Jamie Dimon said the company is getting safer and stronger, as well as gaining market share.
Wells Fargo edged lower after posted earnings of $1.04 U.S. per share, six cents above estimates, with revenue also above forecasts.
The report did break an 18-quarter streak of higher year-over-year earnings, as the bank deals with the impact of a lower interest rate environment.
CSX reports after the bell on Tuesday. Bank of America and US Bancorp report earnings before the bell on Wednesday.
Johnson & Johnson beat on both the top and bottom lines but reported an 8.6% decline in quarterly profit as the impact of a strong dollar on overseas revenue offset growing sales of its mainstay older drugs.
Norfolk Southern closed down more than 4% after reporting on Monday that it expected to earn $1 U.S. per share for the first quarter, below current consensus estimates of $1.25 U.S.
The rail operator said slower coal volumes and a reduction in fuel surcharge revenue are among the factors weighing on the bottom line. The warning negatively hit other rail stocks, like Union Pacific.
Shares of Zillow plunged after being halted in pre-market trade as the company issued guidance sharply below Street estimates.
Retail sales showed an increase of 0.9%, slightly below expectations of a 1.1% month-on-month increase in overall spending. However, the figure was the first gain since late last year.
The Producer Price Index showed an increase of 0.2% in March, in line with expectations and breaking four consecutive months of declines.
Prices for 10-year U.S. Treasuries spiked, lowering yields to 1.90% from Monday’s 1.93%. Treasury prices and yields move in opposite directions.
Oil prices gained $1.19 to $53.10 U.S.
Gold prices fell $6.80 to $1,192.50 U.S.
